Freshman Research Initiative (FRI)

Our Faculty

Research Educators (REs) & Principal Investigators (PIs)

Principal Investigators and Research Educators are Ph.D. level researchers that help develop research streams and serve as FRI stream leaders and/or FRI program coordinators.*  
Stream Primary Research Discipline** Research Educator (RE) Principal Investigator (PI)
Aptamer Biochemistry Gwen Stovall* K-12 Pipeline Initiative Andy Ellington
Autonomous Robots Computer Science Justin Hart Peter Stone
Behavioral Neuroscience Biology Thilini Wijesekera Nigel Atkinson
Big Data in Biology Computational Biology Dhivya Arasappan Hans Hoffman & Vishy Ayer
Bioactive Molecules Chemistry Elizabeth Ilardi* Assistant Director & Communications Stephen F. Martin
Biobricks Biochemistry Soo Hyun Yang* Admissions & Recruitment Karen Browning
Biodiversity Discovery Biology Tom Devitt David Cannatella & David Hillis
Biomanufacturing Biochemistry Katie Hansen Andy Ellington & Brian Davies
Bioprospecting Biochemistry Kasia Dinkeloo* Operations & Safety Andy Ellington & Jennifer Brodbelt
Bugs in Bugs Biology Jo-anne Holley Nancy Moran
Computational Materials Multidisciplinary Wenrui (Ray) Chai Graeme Henkelman & Gyeong Hwang
Creative AI Computer Science TBA Risto Miikulainen
Discovering Signals Biology Greg Clark* K-12 Outreach Stan Roux
Discrete Mathematics Math Mark Daniels Michael Starbird
DIY Diagnostics Multidisciplinary Tim Riedel* UT Inventors Director & Corporate & Industry Relations Andy Ellington
EvoDevOmics Computational Biology Becca Young Advisory Board
Fish Behavior Biology Mary Ramsey* HSRA Co-Director Molly Cummings
Gene Networks Biochemistry Al MacKrell* Peer Mentors Scott Stevens
Geometry of Space Multidisciplinary Shyamal Mitra Karl Gebhardt
Glow Worms Biology Ryan Doonan Daniel Dickinson
Luminators Chemistry Lauren DePue* Assistant Director, Stream Sort, & Course Scheduling Emily Que
Magnetic Matter Physics Matt Dwyer & Peter Kampshroeder John Markert
Maker Space Multidisciplinary Niam Kuttana Advisory Board
Materials in Color Chemistry Tony Dylla* HSRA Co-Director Zach Page
Microbe Hackers Biochemistry Dennis Mishler Jeffrey Barrick
Plant Pathways Biology Tony Gonzalez* Advanced Research Alan Lloyd
Practical Sensors Chemistry Pedro Metola Eric Anslyn, Andy Ellington & Richard Crooks
Quantum Computing Computer Science Noah Davis  Brian La Cour
Supra Sensors Chemistry Diana Zamora-Olivares* UT Wine Initiative Eric Anslyn
Urban Ecosystems Multidisciplinary Stuart Reichler, Mary Poteet, Ruth Shear* Assessment & Accreditation Advisory Board
Virtual Cures Biochemistry Josh Beckham* Peer Observations Walter Fast
White Dwarf Stars Astronomy Mike Montgomery Don Winget
X-Plants Biology Aleah Henderson-Carter Tom Juenger

** Many of our streams are multidisciplinary, but offer course credit related to a primary research discipline.

Former FRI Principal Investigators


  • Dean Appling
  • Zack Booth Simpson
  • Matt Cowperthwaite
  • Ronny Hadani
  • Kristen Harris
  • Christine Hawkes
  • Robert Jansen
  • Richard Jones
  • Jeff Luci
  • Pradeep Ravikumar
  • Jon Robertus
  • Nearl Rutledge
  • Paul Shapiro
  • Dionicio Siegel
  • Keith Stevenson
  • Robert van De Geijn
  • David Vanden Bout
  • Marvin Whiteley
  • Claus Wilke

Interested in starting a stream?


Launch a Stream